Keynote Speaker

Sam Achampong FCIPS, Regional Director of CIPS Asia, Australasia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA)
Sam Achampong FCIPS serves as the Regional Director for Asia, Australasia, the Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) at CIPS - The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. With extensive experience in senior procurement and strategic sourcing roles, he has made significant contributions to organisations such as Land Securities in the UK, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Majid Al Futtaim in the Middle East, and MTN.

Panel Speakers

Hariharan Laxminarayan FCIPS, Head of Professional Development, CIPS MENA
Hariharan Laxminarayan is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of hands-on and leadership experience in Procurement and Supply Chain (P&SC). He is deeply committed to transforming the profession by offering active mentorship, career guidance, and practical learning solutions.

He is a firm believer in the power of People, Processes, and Professionalism, and strives to foster a sense of pride and belonging among fellow professionals. His mission is to transform both mindsets and skill sets, enabling others to excel in their roles while promoting personal and professional growth. Hariharan’s career spans a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, services, metals & smelters, oil & gas, refinery, petroleum, plastics, processes, and education. His experience extends from projects and operations to startups, outsourcing, mergers & acquisitions, and steady-state operations, where he has consistently excelled in solving complex problems through strong partnerships with stakeholders.

Sneha Susan Jacob, Head of Supply Chain Development and CAPEX, The Kraft Heinz Company
Sneha Susan Jacob leads supply chain development and CAPEX for the East Europe region (Russia, Poland, Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Eastern Europe) for the Kraft Heinz Company. In her role, supply chain strategy and execution are her playgrounds, where she blends analytical rigour and design thinking and fiction with hands-on project prowess. Prior to this position, she worked across different echelons of the supply chain, which has given her the ability to seamlessly transition between macroscopic strategy and microscopic detail. She has also worked across different geographies (Asia Pacific) in the apparel and the automotive sectors as well. She is an alumni of Visvesvaraya Technological University (BE – Industrial Engineering and Management) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Global SCALE Network (MS – Supply Chain Management).

Faiq Ali FCIPS, Procurement Director & ISO Lead Auditor
Faiq is an award-winning procurement professional with a distinguished career marked by numerous achievements, including the prestigious designation of Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (FCIPS). With a proven track record in leading procurement transformations, optimising supply chain strategies, and driving sustainable procurement practices, Faiq has successfully delivered value across diverse sectors, including finance, healthcare, technology, and hospitality. Faiq’s expertise also extends to developing procurement policies that prioritise governance, risk management, and ethical standards. Passionate about driving procurement excellence, he has been pivotal in training and mentoring procurement teams to achieve both immediate results and long-term success. He has also spearheaded the development and implementation of a sustainable procurement policy, prioritising environmental and social responsibility. This initiative has not only optimised procurement efficiency but also underscored a strong commitment to ethical sourcing and reducing environmental impacts. Faiq's dedication to excellence and his continuous pursuit of knowledge make him a standout contributor in the procurement fraternity.

Varun Malik, CEO, Konsalidön
Varun Malik is the CEO of Konsalidön. He is an experienced Management Consultant. He managed Strategy, Governance, HR Consulting, Business Process Re-engineering, Risk Management and ERP Implementation projects for leading organisations in Government entities, oil and gas companies, educational institutions, real estate companies and banks. Varun has extensive experience in advising, setting up and managing winning organisations and teams, leading business development teams to build sustainable commercial entities, and streamlining operations to achieve excellence.

Moderators

Dr Sreejith Balasubramanian, Associate Professor, Business School & Head, Centre for Supply Chain Excellence, Middlesex University Dubai
Dr Sreejith Balasubramanian is the Associate Professor, and the Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Excellence at Middlesex University, Dubai. He is also the Chair of the Office of Research. Sreejith completed his PhD from Middlesex University Business School in London. Sreejith is part of a core team current working on a funded USD 200,000 (approx.) flagship project from Thailand Research Foundation on ‘Net Zero Emission Execution and Roadmap and Tools’ for the Thai Logistics Sector. His other areas of expertise include supply chain, sustainable sourcing, operations management, disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, analytics, and knowledge management. He has been a consultant and trainer for several public and private sector entities and intergovernmental organisations. He has also received project funding from global bodies such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and Mekong – Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF), and UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). Sreejith has over 60 publications in leading academic and practitioner-focused journals. Before moving to academia, Sreejith had several years of industry experience in the telecom sector in senior roles as an IT project consultant and project manager.

Mahnoush Gharehdash, Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management
Mahnoush Gharehdash is a lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management at Middlesex University Dubai, with a Master’s in International Business Management and ongoing PhD studies in AI in Supply Chain. With expertise in procurement, ERP systems like SAP, and operations management, she is actively involved in research, presenting at international conferences, and publishing on topics such as sustainability and supply chain management. Mahnoush has over three years of teaching experience and several years in the real estate industry as a property consultant. She contributes to curriculum development and organises workshops and competitions, demonstrating her commitment to education and fostering future professionals.

Procurement and Supply Chain Symposium

Preparing Next Generation Procurement & Supply Chain Leaders